Canton Weekly Register

Venus by Daylight.—Quite an excitement was produced on our streets yesterday morning, by the somewhat unexpected appearance of the planet Venus, by daylight. She was easily seen with the naked eye as late as ten o’clock, presenting the appearance of a clear white spot in the heavens.

The variations in the distance of Venus from the earth are very great, but at her least distance the illuminated portion of her surface visible to us is very small. On the 10th of May she was in what is called her inferior conjunction, and was then only some 26,000,000 of miles distant. Her greatest brilliancy is when her position is intermediate between her inferior conjunction and her farthest elongation, and occurs about five or six weeks before and after the date of the former. The present year she will be most brilliant on Monday next, the 15th inst.

It is somewhat unusual to see any of the planets by daylight, with the unassisted vision. Hence the sight of Venus at 9 o’clock, in the morning, with the sun shining brilliantly, was a novel and interesting one. To the mind of many an observer, who had paid but little attention to the astronomical phenomena of the year, the idea of a comet whose coming has been predicted, was instantly presented.

Those who wish to observe a most beautiful sight, should rise in the morning and look to the eastward. They will find Jupiter and Venus both heralding the coming of the sun.—[Milwaukee Courier, June 15th.